The Voice's heartthrob reveals his struggle with growing up gay: 'I prepared myself to be alone as an adult'

Competing on The Voice would be a terrifying experience for any unseasoned singer. But for Alfie Arcuri, it's not the biggest challenge of his journey so far.

The 27-year-old favourite told TV Week that coming out to his Italian family three years ago was by far the scariest thing he's ever done. Luckily his parents, two sisters and grandparents didn't react as he'd expected them to.

"My family was absolutely amazing, the Sydney-based architect said. "I would have come out a lot earlier if I'd known how they'd react."

Good for him – and for them. But the road to coming out, wasn't nearly as smooth as the actual moment of truth-telling. Aflie has known he was gay since hitting puberty, but like so many young gay people, he decided to keep it to himself.

"It was the hardest time of my life," he recalled. "Going through school was exhausting. Every day you had to watch your step, watch what you say.

"I tried so hard to think I wasn't gay. I thought there was something wrong with me at the time."

What was a gay teen to do? Well, the same thing so many others have done.

"I prepared myself to be alone as an adult," he admitted. "I just couldn't imagine my family accepting me being gay.